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I've seen this series all over YouTube and around the blogging community and I've always wanted to have a go myself.. so what better time to start than January! Here are a few of my favourites this month!

This is such a cliche beauty/lifestyle blogger post to write about but let's be honest, I just had to show you! I don't know about you, but I love watching/reading these videos/posts because I am just such a nosey person that likes to know what people carry around in their bags!

I'm not going to lie and say my bag and the contents of my bag is as spotless as it seems in the photos I took, because saying that I am a glamorous, classy women who doesn't carry hair, crumbs and receipts in her bag like everyone else would be a complete lie! Of course my bag is filled with as much crap as every other girl's, and to be honest it did get a well deserved clean while I was taking the photos for this post! I also did have a slightly cheeky second where I thought that I would pop a few extra 'cool' items into the mix and pretend that I carry them around with my constantly.. but where's the fun in that?! I also realised after taking this pictures the crazy amount of pink that I carry around with me... I honestly didn't know that I was such a pink fan.. but apparently if you empty out my bag I look like a real girly girl.

As we are nearing closer to Valentines Day I thought I would do a quick haul where I give you a run down of Lush's Valentines collection! I wanted to get this post published as quickly as possible while all the products are still in stock as they are limited edition and selling fast! The second they brought the new collection into my local store I ran to town and grabbed as much as I could.. you all know how much I love Lush! I fell in love with their Christmas collection and I had so many favourites during Christmastime and Halloween so I had high hopes for all of their new products!

(**The reviews for each product ended up being super long, so I'd grab a tea or coffee before reading this one!!)

After trawling through the internet looking for blog ideas, I decided to start up a new series which I very originally named 'How To..' (give me a break okay?!) And naturally, as I am in fact writing this while hungover.. for my first How To post I've decided to let you know how I survive a hangover. Because lets be honest, sometimes we all overdo it and inevitably wake up feeling sorry for ourselves... unfortunately there's no cure, but we can mask that feeling of regret!

Since my first Lush review went down so well... and I take way too many baths for one human being.. I thought I would do another review for you guys! Although Pink Flamingo to me is more of a summery bath product I thought screw the season (!) as it is one of my favourites so I just HAD to review it for you (even if it is winter...!)

This little cutie is quite obviously in the shape of a very cute flamingo, it's also bright pink which (I must admit) I was very drawn to when I first saw it.. because I sometimes can't contain my inner 10 year old... It comes on a lolly stick and the idea is you hold it under your running water into your bath and creates loads and loads of bubbles. You can also swish it around in your bath if you like! It's also reusable and tends to last me around 4-5 baths which is a great bonus!

I feel like I can hardly say I'm a beauty, lifestyle AND baking blogger without doing this signature bake, so here I am finally making it! I must admit this is my first time making a Victoria sponge, however difficult that is to believe! But I have so many assignments that my procrastinating has brought out the baker in me and I have baked my fair share of cakes this month - so I thought I'd better blog about them!!

Victoria sponge cake is fairly easy (I even followed a Nigella recipe!) so if you've never made this cake before, I definitely recommend it!

In spirit of the New Year one of my goals for 2016, is to be happy more often. I tend to focus more on negativity and positivity doesn't usually come naturally for me all the time. So I've decided to make a list of 100 things that make me happy, because I think it's important for us all to step back and have a look at what actually makes us smile - instead of focusing on the stresses and worries of life and taking the little things for granted..

A little while ago I did a post on my Vanity Table and in that post I promised to do a quick tour of my makeup storage so here it is - a quick run-down of my makeup storage! I decided to also pick out my favourite drugstore and high end makeup from each section of my drawer, because I thought you might like to know! I hope you enjoy!

I almost added this journal to my January favourites, but I thought it deserved a post of its own..

I thought with it being January, now is the perfect time to talk about diaries and journals because I don't know about you, but I tend to go a bit stationery mad in January.. it starts with one diary and always seems to spiral out of control! I actually came across this journal when I was scrolling through instagram, I fell in love instantly with it and couldn't not have it in my life! Thankfully, they left a link in the caption of the picture, that sent me straight to the website, and I bought it then and there, without any second thought! I mean, can we just take a moment to talk about how gorgeous this journal is! I love everything about it, the pink and white is perfect and the gold writing is just the cherry on top of it all! (Calm down Jemma..!)

I have been nominated by the lovely Issy over at issybellefox.com to do the Liebster award. I've never done this before so I thought I would give it a go, it looks like a good way of coming across new blogs and getting to know new bloggers! I'm always down to share some positivity so here goes!

There are some days where I look at my blogging schedule and think oh god... how am I supposed to write this many posts before then.. I've stuck to publishing a new post every other day since the beginning (it wasn't that long ago but..) I'm not planning on breaking this schedule any time soon. So I thought, when I'm stuck for time, instead of getting out a load of beauty products or getting my kitchen in a huge mess from baking I would give you a little update about what's going on in my life at the moment. I just feel like this is so much easier than trying to review a product or do a haul, so I can just write it all out in one sitting and get it done a lot quicker!

I've been waiting to use this bubble bar for quite a while now, the reviews are quite mixed, so I was overly excited to see how I got on with it! And today was finally the day, so I thought I would do a quick review for you! Also, can I just say, taking a camera into the bath with you is a really weird feeling.. that is all.

Today I went home back to Portsmouth, back to uni, (*sigh...*) but before I get back to the stresses of assignments and lectures I had one more day of the Christmas holidays to spend with my family! We decided to go to Gunwharf Quays, (which is around the corner from my flat) its a designer outlet so features some amazing designer brands at really affordable prices! I picked up a few items that I REALLY REALLY love, so I though why not do a quick haul?! (Who doesn't love a good haul!)

If you know me you know that I am OBSESSED with Soap and Glory and have been for years! I remember going into Boots with my wage packet from my first job and buying all of their moisturisers and body butters! So when I saw people getting this AMAZING (to say the least) gift set, I must admit I was a rather jealous bunny... But! When I saw a square shaped box under the tree I couldn't help but get my hopes up! Long story short, my Dad bought it for me and I couldn't be happier! Thanks Dad!!

Anxiety is something that I've dealt with for a long time, before I even knew what the word meant.

I feel like I should say I'm writing this at 2am after watching Zoella's latest vlogmas (yes! I know that was about a month ago, I had loads of blog posts scheduled before this!) But her message made me feel so inspired and sparked something in me so I just had to write about it and share it- especially since at the moment I feel like my anxiety is beginning to take over.

Happy New Year my lovelies! I hope you've all had a relaxing week on the run down from Christmas, ready to start the new year fresh!

I also hope you had a great time celebrating New Years Eve with your family and friends, whatever you did! Our tradition in my family is to sit outside with a fire pit and toast marshmallows - then coming in to watch the London firework display on TV and dragging everyone up to dance around to Auld Lang Syne....! I love celebrating the New Year with my family and I wouldn't have it any other way - its so special chatting away and laughing with my favourite people!